…Osinbajo heads investigative panel

From: Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja‎

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ayo Oke.

The president has also ordered investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against Lawal in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).‎

Lawal’s suspension from office would last pending the outcome of the investigations.

‎Global Vision Ltd., owned by the SGF was indicted by the Senate last December  for benefiting from inflated and phantom contracts – or ones not executed at all – awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE).

The Senate had also called for the sack of the SGF.‎

Lawal’s Global Vision Ltd., got over N200 million contract to clear GRASS in Yobe State Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp.‎

The most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF’s office, is to act during the period of investigation.‎

Also, Oke’s suspension would run until the outcome of a full scale investigation he ordered  into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.

The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

Also, the most senior officer in the NIA, is to act during the period of investigation.‎

A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo is to conduct both investigations.

The committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days, according to a statement by the  Special Adviser on ‎Media and Publicity, ‎Femi Adesina.